Leica M's Sorted by Model and
Serial Number 1954 to 1999: M3 to M6 TTL

The raw data was supplied courtesy of
Leica, by Mr. Horst Braun with the approval of Leica's CEO, Mr. Cohn.I'm sure I'm speaking for all Leica enthusiasts in thanking
them for their help and generosity in sharing this information. I
sorted and edited the raw data into its present form to enhance readability. In some
cases notes were added and wording revised for clarity.

M's are grouped alphabetically M1 to M6, sorted within each group by starting serial number in that group.
Rangefinderless M's are listed together at the end of the page. In this
list special models that have collector interest, such as black M3's and special edition
M6's are listed together.

Many interesting facts come to light with
this list, but many other facts are left unknown. For instance, NASA
and 50th Anniversary cameras are not listed, nor the M6 Titanium or the original M6
.85. To be more exact, I do know the Titanium and original M6 .85 numbers are
listed, but their numbers are mixed in with regular M6 production numbers.
It's probably a fair guess that many variations and special models which get collector's
notice, did not get that much notice at the factory, so the serial numbers were just mixed
in with the regular production for that model. The reality of it is that the
list was not made with all the precision that Leica collectors might like, but then the
list wasn't made by Leica collectors -- it was made by people simply trying to get their
job done -- sometimes at the end of a long day at work.

Of special note are the rare and expensive black paint bodies
and military M's. While the list is probably as accurate as we are going to have,
it has long been accepted by Leica collectors that some real black bodies are "not on
the list." On the other hand, forgers are getting better and better at
making fake black Leicas. hmm... To compound the problem, if you had
friends in high places at the Wetzlar or Midland factories, special finishes or features
could be ordered, and these would not appear on the "official" list.
As you might imagine, this makes documenting many unusual cameras
almost impossible -- a nightmare for collectors, an income opportunity for forgers.

For perhaps the first time, most Leica M
Birthdays are also listed, to be more exact the assignment date of the serial block.
You know what this means ---another reason to have a Birthday
party. Let's see, 6 Leicas, six new Birthday parties. Hmm.

Unless otherwise stated, camera finish is chrome.

Date

Camera

Starting

Ending

Batch

2/26/1959

M1

950001

950300

300

3/18/1959

M1

952016

952500

485

6/1/1959

M1

956501

957000

500

7/22/1959

M1

966501

967500

1000

10/9/1959

M1

979501

980500

950

1/5/1961

M1

1017001

1017500

500

3/21/1961

M1

1028001

1028600

600

6/9/1961

M1

1035401

1036000

525

9/13/1961

M1 (includes 5 M3)

1040001

1040600

600

3/16/1962

M1

1046001

1046500

500

6/20/1962

M1

1050001

1050500

500

11/5/1962

M1

1060001

1060500

500

3/11/1963

M1

1067501

1068000

370

7/2/1963

M1

1074001

1074500

500

10/11/1963

M1

1085001

1085500

500

1/16/1964

M1

1091001

1091300

300

7/10/1964

M1 (includes 4 Post)

1098001

1098300

213

9/11/1964

M1

1102001

1102500

500

1/26/1965

M1

1102801

1103000

100

3/28/1960

M1 green paint

980451

980500

50

8/31/1961

M1 green paint

1035926

1036000

75

9/10/1964

M1 green paint

1098101

1098183

83

11/25/1957

M2

926001

926200

200

5/8/1958

M2

929001

931000

2000

6/9/1958

M2 with smaller window

931001

933000

2000

8/6/1958

M2

935001

937500

2500

9/8/1958

M2

937501

940000

2500

9/12/1958

M2 ELC

937621

937650

30

9/26/1958

M2

940001

942900

2900

10/31/1958

M2 ELC

942901

943000

100

11/3/1958

M2

944001

946000

2000

12/1/1958

M2

946001

947000

800

12/4/1958

M2 ELC

946301

946400

100

12/9/1958

M2 ELC

946901

947000

100

12/9/1958

M2

947001

947500

500

12/9/1958

M2 with self timer

947501

948000

500

12/17/1958

M2 ELC

948501

948600

100

1/5/1959

M2

949101

950000

900

12/19/1958

M2 with self timer

949101

949400

300

6/22/1959

M2

960501

961500

1000

6/22/1959

M2 with self timer

960501

960500

1000

1/19/1960

M2 without self timer

960501

960801

300

6/22/1959

M2 from 960601 with new light window

960601

7/22/1959

M2

967501

968350

850

8/24/1959

M2

970001

971500

1500

10/9/1959

M2

975001

976500

1200

1/19/1960

M2 with self timer

975801

976100

300

12/4/1959

M2

982001

984000

1850

1/19/1960

M2 with self timer

982001

982150

150

12/7/1959

M2 with self timer

982901

983500

600

2/3/1960

M2 ELC

987201

987300

100

6/22/1960

M2

988351

988650

300

6/22/1960

M2 with self timer

988651

989250

600

2/10/1960

M2

989251

990750

1250

2/10/1960

M2 with self timer

989251

989650

400

2/10/1960

M2 with self timer

989801

990500

700

4/13/1960

M2

993751

996000

1850

5/31/1960

M2 ELC

995001

995100

100

5/31/1960

M2 with self timer

995101

995400

300

7/5/1960

M2

1004001

1004150

150

7/5/1960

M2 with self timer

1004150

1007000

2850

8/17/1960

M2 ELC

1005351

1005450

100

9/26/1960

M2

1011001

1014000

3000

1/15/1961

M2 (includes 200 ELC)

1017501

1022000

4300

1/15/1961

M2 ELC

1017901

1018000

100

1/15/1961

M2 ELC

1020101

1020200

100

4/27/1961

M2

1028601

1031800

3200

7/28/1961

M2 ELC

1036001

1036050

50

8/9/1961

M2

1036351

1038000

1600

1/5/1962

M2 ELC

1037951

1038000

50

2/2/1962

M2

1043001

1044000

800

5/17/1962

M2

1048001

1050000

2000

6/20/1962

M2

1050501

1055000

4250

8/27/1962

M2 ELC

1054901

1055000

100

11/5/1962

M2

1060501

1063000

2400

2/20/1963

M2 ELC

1061701

1061800

100

3/11/1963

M2

1068001

1070000

2000

7/2/1963

M2

1074501

1077000

2500

10/10/1963

M2

1085501

1088000

2500

1/16/1964

M2

1091301

1093800

2150

3/16/1964

M2 ELC

1093751

1093800

50

7/10/1964

M2

1098301

1100000

1600

8/19/1964

M2 ELC

1099801

1099900

100

3/17/1965

M2

1102901

1103000

100

11/3/1964

M2

1103001

1105000

1900

1/26/1965

M2 ELC

1104901

1105000

100

1/26/1965

M2

1107001

1109000

2000

4/29/1965

M2

1112001

1115000

3000

8/18/1965

M2

1130301

1133000

2600

11/8/1965

M2 ELC

1132901

1133000

100

1/26/1966

M2

1137001

1139000

1900

4/18/1966

M2 ELC

1138901

1139000

100

5/3/1966

M2

1142001

1145000

3000

9/30/1966

M2

1161421

1162400

980

9/30/1966

M2

1162451

1163770

1320

9/30/1966

M2

1164047

1164550

504

12/28/1966

M2

1164551

1164845

295

4/3/1967

M2

1164941

1165000

60

8/28/1969

M2-R Chrome with M4 Rapid
Loading

1248201

1250200

2000

12/19/1958

M2 Black

948601

949100

500

3/21/1960

M2 Black

990501

990750

250

8/18/1961

M2 Black

1031801

1032000

200

5/11/1962

M2 Black

1043801

1044000

200

7/5/1960

M2 Black with self timer.

1005101

1005350

250

10/24/1962

M2 Black

1053101

1053250

150

8/5/1963

M2 Black

1075001

1075300

300

4/8/1964

M2 Black

1093501

1093750

250

8/18/1965

M2 Black

1130001

1130300

300

11/24/1966

M2 Black

1162401

1162450

50

7/12/1968

M2 Black

1207000

1207000

1

1/30/1967

M2 M Motor

1163771

1164046

276

Ed. Note: This was Leica's first electric motor drive M camera, appearing some 6
months before the M4-M. An unknown number of motorized M2's exist, modified by Leitz
NY, without the M2-M engraving. Yet, the a motorized M2 was actually
available five years earlier. The 1962 Camcraft N-5 Motor" made by Camcraft of
Madison Wisconsin offered speeds to 3.6 frames per second at speeds from 1/50th to
1/1000th. Craftcraft offered to modify the M2, M1, or MP for motor use. It has a
large separate battery pack, connected by coil similar to the separate battery pack
originally used on the Nikon F. A MOOLY like lever on the front on the camera
connected the shutter release to the motor underneath the camera which was attached
to a somewhat awkward vertical style handgrip. Camcraft even offered
"remote activating devices" on special order. The motor was $298.50,
the battery packs ran from $10.50 to 42.50. The wet cell charging
device was $8.95 more. Somewhat later the noted camera repairman and
photographic writer Norman Goldberg invented the "Remodrive"
manufactured by TPI (Technical Photomation Instruments) in Los Angeles.
Leica liked the Remodrive design so much they bought the rights
and manufactured it themselves, turning it into the M2-M and M4-M motor!
Production of the "Camcraft" and "Remodrive" is unknown, but limited.

8/29/1960

M2 Luftwaffe Grey (enamel)

1005751

1005770

20

Ed: Please note earlier M3's could be updated by Leica and Leica
authorized repairmen with later M3 features. The most common updates were updates
from double stroke advance to single stroke advance, and the addition of the frameline
preview lever.

1/1/1955

M3 (Exact Date Unrecorded)

700000

700000

1

1/1/1954

M3 (Exact Date Unrecorded)

700001

710000

10000

1/1/1955

M3 (Exact Date Unrecorded)

730001

746450

16449

1/1/1955

M3 ELC (Exact Date
Unrecorded)

746451

746500

50

1/1/1955

M3 (Exact Date Unrecorded)

746501

750000

3500

1/1/1955

M3 (Exact Date Unrecorded)

750001

759700

9700

1/1/1955

M3 ELC (Exact Date
Unrecorded)

759701

760000

300

1/1/1955

M3 (Exact Date Unrecorded)

775001

780000

5000

1/1/1955

M3 ELC (Exact Date
Unrecorded)

780001

780100

100

1/1/1955

M3 (Exact Date Unrecorded)

780101

787000

6900

1/1/1955

M3 from 782001 top plate
changed, without 4 screw holes

782001

.

.

1/1/1955

M3 from 785801 with preview
lever

785801

.

.

1/1/1955

M3 (Exact Date Unrecorded)

800000

807500

7500

1/1/1955

M3 ELC (Exact Date
Unrecorded)

805001

805100

100

3/21/1956

M3

816001

820500

4400

3/23/1956

M3 ELC

816901

817000

100

6/15/1956

M3 ELC

829851

830000

150

5/4/1956

M3

830001

837500

7500

7/21/1956

M3 ELC

837501

837620

120

1/1/1956

M3 (Exact Date Unrecorded)

837721

839620

1900

1/1/1956

M3 ELC (Exact Date
Unrecorded)

839621

839700

80

1/1/1956

M3 (Exact Date Unrecorded)

839701

840500

800

1/1/1956

M3 ELC (Exact Date
Unrecorded)

840501

840820

320

1/1/1956

M3 (Exact Date Unrecorded)

840821

845000

4180

10/26/1956

M3 ELC

844781

845000

220

11/5/1956

M3

851001

854000

3000

1/5/1957

M3 new shutter speed
sequence

854001

858000

4000

1/5/1967

M3 from 856000 with metal
film pressure plate rather than glass

856000

.

.

2/14/1957

M3

862001

866620

4620

3/22/1957

M3 ELC

866621

867000

380

3/25/1957

M3

872001

877000

5000

6/5/1957

M3

882001

886700

4700

7/30/1957

M3 ELC

886701

887000

300

8/13/1957

M3

893001

898000

4430

8/26/1957

M3 ELC

894001

984570

570

9/25/1957

M3

898001

903000

5000

11/25/1957

M3 ELC

903001

903300

300

11/28/1957

M3

910001

916000

5700

11/20/1957

M3

915001

915200

200

1/14/1958

M3

916001

919250

3250

3/26/1958

M3 with depth of field mask,
single stroke film advance

919251

924500

5229

4/22/1958

M3 ELC still with double
stroke film advance

924401

924500

100

4/23/1958

M3

926701

929000

2300

2/26/1959

M3

950301

951900

1600

3/19/1959

M3 ELC

951901

952000

100

4/15/1959

M3

952501

955000

2300

4/22/1959

M3 ELC

954801

954900

100

4/29/1959

M3 ELC

954901

955000

100

5/14/1959

M3

957001

959400

2400

6/24/1959

M3 ELC

961501

961700

200

6/24/1959

M3

961701

966500

4800

7/22/1959

M3 ELC

968351

968500

150

8/24/1959

M3

972001

974700

2700

10/2/1959

M3 ELC

974701

975000

300

10/9/1959

M3

976501

979500

3000

12/7/1959

M3 ELC

984001

984200

200

12/7/1959

M3

984201

987000

2800

2/3/1960

M3 ELC

987001

987200

200

2/10/1960

M3

990751

993750

2750

4/13/1960

M3

996001

1000000

4000

5/31/1960

M3 ELC

998001

998300

300

7/5/1960

M3

1000001

1004000

4000

7/5/1960

M3 # 1000070 exists two
times

1000070

1000070

.

8/17/1960

M3 ELC

1003701

1004000

300

9/13/1960

M3

1007001

1011000

4000

11/21/1960

M3 ELC

1014001

1014300

300

11/21/1960

M3

1014301

1017000

2700

1/19/1961

M3

1022001

1028000

5500

1/19/1961

M3 ELC

1022701

1023000

300

4/13/1961

M3 ELC

1027801

1028000

200

6/9/1961

M3

1032001

1035400

3400

7/28/1961

M3 ELC

1036051

1036350

300

8/9/1961

M3

1038001

1040000

1800

9/13/1961

M3 5 made with M1 batch #
1040067 1040068, 1040071, 1040095, 1040096

1040067

1040096

5

10/11/1961

M3

1040601

1043000

2400

2/2/1962

M3

1044001

1046000

2000

3/16/1962

M3

1046501

1048000

1300

6/12/1962

M3 ELC

1047801

1048000

200

6/20/1962

M3

1055001

1060000

4800

11/5/1962

M3

1063001

1067500

4100

11/21/1962

M3 ELC

1065001

1065200

200

3/11/1963

M3

1070001

1074000

4000

7/2/1963

M3

1077001

1080000

3000

10/10/1963

M3

1088001

1091000

3000

1/16/1964

M3

1093801

1098000

4050

3/16/1964

M3 ELC

1097851

1098000

15

7/10/1964

M3

1100001

1102000

1950

11/3/1964

M3

1105001

1107000

1900

1/26/1965

M3 ELC

1106901

1107000

100

1/26/1965

M3

1109001

1110500

1500

4/29/1965

M3

1110501

1112000

1500

6/30/1965

M3

1128401

1130000

1600

9/7/1965

M3

1133001

1136000

3000

11/8/1965

M3 ELC

1135001

1135100

100

2/11/1966

M3 with Star

1135001

1135100

100

1/26/1966

M3

1139001

1141000

1900

4/18/1966

M3 ELC

1140901

1141000

100

5/3/1966

M3

1155001

1158000

3000

9/30/1966

M3

1158001

1158500

500

9/30/1966

M3

1158511

1158995

485

2/2/1967

M3

1164846

1164865

20

6/3/1959

M3 Black

959401

959500

100

3/21/1960

M3 Black

993501

993750

250

8/18/1961

M3 Black

1038801

1039000

200

10/24/1962

M3 Black

1059850

1059999

150

8/5/1963

M3 Black

1078501

1078800

300

4/8/1964

M3 Black

1097701

1097850

150

11/12/1965

M3 Black

1134001

1134150

150

12/2/1966

M3 Black

1157591

1157600

10

1/26/1967

M3 Black

1158501

1158510

10

12/20/1957

M3 Green (enamel)

910501

910600

100

3/26/1958

M3 Green (enamel)

920501

920251

21

9/10/1964

M3 Green (enamel)

1100401

1100450

50

2/6/1967

M3 Green (enamel)

1158996

1159000

5

7/30/1968

M3 Green (enamel)

1206962

1205999

38

9/27/1956

MP

1

11

11

2/14/1957

MP

12

500

489

6/24/1957

MP Black

13

150

137

6/24/1957

MP Chrome

151

450

298

6/24/1957

MP Black

213

214

2

Ed. Note: Per Nakamura's "Leica Collection," only 137 black MP's
from MP13 to MP150 were produced, and only 251 chrome MP's numbered MP151 to MP402
respectively. He states production was stopped due to poor sales. Buyer
beware. For every MP that left the factory, there are probably 20 or more being
offered for sale with the same serial number.

8/19/1958

MP2

935501

935512

12

4/3/1959

MP2

952001

952015

15

11/28/1966

M4

1175001

1178000

3000

4/27/1967

M4 ELC

1178001

1178100

100

12/28/1966

M4

1178101

1185000

6900

7/19/1967

M4 ELC

1183001

1183100

100

7/19/1967

M4

1185001

1195000

10000

5/3/1968

M4

1207481

1215000

7520

1/22/1969

M4

1225801

1235000

9200

1/2/1970

M4

1250201

1254650

4450

11/24/1970

M4

1267501

1273921

6421

1/20/1975

M4 Canada

1412551

1413350

800

Ed: Earlier Black M4's had a black enamel finish, later M4's (presumably
dating from about the introduction of the M5) used a black chrome finish. The
black enamel M4's generally command a premium to collectors over the black chrome.

7/20/1967

M4 Black

1181501

1182000

500

5/3/1968

M4 Black

1185151

1185290

140

5/3/1968

M4 Black

1207001

1207480

480

1/22/1969

M4 Black

1225001

1225800

800

8/28/1969

M4 Black

1246201

1248100

1900

6/11/1970

M4 Black

1266001

1266100

100

6/11/1970

M4 Black

1266132

1267100

969

2/4/1971

M4 Black

1286201

1286700

500

1/16/1974

M4 Black

1380001

400

400

1/16/1974

M4 Black repro

1380401

1380450

50

1/16/1974

M4 Black

1380451

1382050

1600

1/16/1974

M4 Black engraved E. Leitz Canada

1382051

1382600

550

6/7/1974

M4 Black

1384001

1384600

600

1/20/1975

M4 Black

1413351

1414150

1800

7/22/1975

M4 Black

1414151

1415000

850

7/22/1975

M4 Black

1443001

1443170

170

Ed. Note: Reportedly about 200 M4's were built on MDa bodies. They are
identifiable by their lack of a self timer, and the insert for the MDa data strip. Pics of
# Black M4 1414964 can be seen here.

8/18/1967

M4-M

1185001

1185300

300

5/29/1969

M4-M

1206737

1206751

15

12/1/1968

M4 Mot

1206752

1206891

140

6/11/1970

M4 Mot

1267101

1267500

400

12/4/1970

M4 Mot

1274001

1274100

100

Ed. Note: All M4-M's and M4-MOT's I have seen were black enamel, as opposed
to the later black chrome finish. Apparently a good number of these were sold
to the US Navy. About half I have seen are former US Navy cameras, usually in beaten
condition. Per the Leica Viewfinder, October 1973, 35 M4-MOTs were
converted to data cameras with a MDa type data strip and the removal of their motor
connection.

M4-P ELW, 270 of which are M6, but
numbers not recorded, Canada engraving

1691951

1692950

1000

Ed: Black M5's used the newly introduced Black Chrome finish instead of the
previous black enamel, which would go on to become the standard black finish of
later M's. The M5 was the first production camera to use Black chrome. The
second was the 110 format Kodak Instamatic 60 "Pro." Collectors have
lamented the change ever since.

Ed. Note: Per Nakamura's "Leica Collection, " the first 10
MD's had a hammer tone finish.

12/28/1966

MDa

1159001

1160200

1200

9/30/1966

MDa

1160247

1160249

3

4/27/1967

MDa

1160821

1160863

43

12/28/1966

MDa

1160864

1161420

557

4/2/1968

MDa

1205001

1207000

2000

8/28/1969

MDa

1245001

1246200

1200

3/9/1970

MDa

1254651

1255000

350

6/11/1970

MDa

1265001

1266000

1000

12/4/1970

MDa

1274101

1275000

900

2/4/1971

MDa

1285001

1286200

1200

8/20/1971

MDa

1293001

1294000

1000

12/5/1972

MDa with flash lock

1293673

1293770

98

5/16/1972

MDa with flash lock

1293776

1293877

102

12/11/1972

MDa

1360001

1361000

1000

2/27/1973

MDa

1361001

1361500

500

11/8/1973

MDa

1379001

1380000

1000

7/3/1974

MDa

1384601

1385000

400

1/20/1975

MDa

1410001

1412550

2550

Ed. Note: An unknown small number of MDa were factory motorized for the M4-M
motor using an AC power source. They had both standard "MDa" and
"MDa-MOT" engravings. Two examples are illustrated in Nakamura's
"Leica Collection." and in Satorious's "Identifying Leica
Cameras."